AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[BigCityAccountant1]

Fair enough. If she thinks SIL could be involved, maybe appealing to a possible accomplice then? Idk what to think.

I don't think accomplice.....I think she's saying---we don't know where her body is and we need her body to prosecute otherwise case is circumstantial. We know--but it won't hold up in court without mom's body. She's more composed, she's more determined than ever, she's more resolved now. Her energy was diverted---she's more focused now. She's more angry and it's a focused anger. IMHO, something changed and she knows something significant now that she's been kept out of the loop from this past week.

 

[Chimera]

Cartel angle. Something I am starting to consider.

With the recent pressure and crackdowns on cartel activity, it is not unreasonable to at least consider whether some groups may be shifting tactics to generate revenue in different ways. Kidnapping and ransom have historically been part of cartel operations, especially in environments where journalists and public figures have been targeted.

Looking at the last five years alone, the pattern is not insignificant. According to press freedom and watchdog reporting, Mexico continues to rank among the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Over roughly the past five years, multiple journalists have been abducted, disappeared, or kidnapped in cartel-influenced regions. ARTICLE 19’s tracking shows dozens of journalists disappeared historically, with additional disappearances continuing into the most recent decade. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also repeatedly reported Mexico as having one of the highest numbers of missing or disappeared journalists globally, and individual cases of journalists being kidnapped and later released have continued to surface in cartel dominated areas.

That does not automatically mean cartel involvement in this case, but it shows that the tactic exists and has been used repeatedly in recent years.

Another important piece is the Bitcoin misconception. Many people assume cryptocurrency makes ransom untraceable. It does not. Bitcoin is pseudonymous, not anonymous, and every transaction is permanently recorded. In past cases, funds believed to be hidden were eventually traced once they touched real-world systems such as exchanges, services, or identifiable behavior. Most identifications do not happen because technology fails. They happen because one small real-world connection exposes the chain.

So while there is still no confirmed public evidence tying this specific case directly to cartel involvement, the method of kidnapping combined with ransom and crypto does fit patterns seen in organized crime environments. The real turning point will be whether investigators uncover any concrete link to organized networks, cross border activity, or traceable financial movement.

Interesting comment, thanks.
Might be relevant.
This case is crazy back and forth in the possibilities of the perps.

Might be family.

Might be staff of Nancy's who were in charge of yardwork, kitchen/cooking, cleaning, etc.

One possibility I'm not convinced of yet, is a random passerby who knew somehow that Nancy lived alone and took advantage of an elderly woman -- because--what would they gain by taking her with them, as opposed to a smash & grab ?

That bit (pun intended) about the bitcoin/cryptocurrency able to be tracked was new to me !
Now am back to considering the employees who may have been casing Nancy's house.
Omo.

 

[tricia]

Hey everyone,

We’ve got a great show tonight at 10:30 PM Eastern. Aphrodite Jones will be joining us. She’s friends with Savannah and brings unique insight into the case, so this is one you won’t want to miss.

And in fantastic news, Mike King’s new podcast, Gardens of Evil, just reached the #1 spot on Apple today. That is huge. ( I will ban myself for going off topic but we love Mike King so I'll take the hit. ha)
https://go.gamutpodcasts.com/americannightmareseries

 

[MCB1151]

Genuine question - how would NG be alive by now if it has been documented in a legal filing that her medication was left in her home and the sheriff was on record saying she needs vital medication or else her conditions becomes fatal within 24 hours?

Was that actually confirmed about the meds? I was not under the impression that death would be imminent that fast. I don't think she's alive but I don't remember seeing confirmation that basically she would have very possibly been deceased prior to the first ransom demand.

 

[pirateboy]

Really dumb question here: is the alleged 2nd deadline at 5pm eastern or 5pm local? If 5pm local, that would 7 eastern

 

[Sundog]

Do you think SG started to make preparations for a ransom situation maybe many months ago? We don't know if she was facing prior threats.

I was thinking that she would have started the process of getting the ransom money ready as soon as she got the first ransom note. Being prepared if she needed to hit the send button, not planning to necessarily, but being ready to do so.

 

[tbgo]

Genuine question - how would NG be alive by now if it has been documented in a legal filing that her medication was left in her home and the sheriff was on record saying she needs vital medication or else her conditions becomes fatal within 24 hours?

Honestly, I think she died that night.

 

[Charlot123]

I'm not familiar with your reference to the dynamic in a nearby house. Can you bring me up to date, please? Something with NG's neighbors or AG's? The only issue I know of in the neighborhood is the police report of a trespasser. Thank you!

I wanted to say, SIL's house. 4 miles away, as i have read.

Yes, NG's instant neighbor was super smart to notice the clean roof.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Fair enough. If she thinks SIL could be involved, maybe appealing to a possible accomplice then? Idk what to think.

I kinda felt like it was appealing to a helper, accomplice partner too! But could be public as well.

 

[K9Enzo]

I'm cautious in assuming SG's latest video and any of the family released videos to date reflect how lead investigators actually feel about the case, or what their evidence, unseen to us and the family for that matter, may be telling them.

It's also not unusual in missing persons cases for families to separate from LE in their own messaging. Relationships that initially appear strong between families and LE can become strained over time. That was a general comment. My point is that when families speak, they are not speaking for LE. I have to remind myself of that sometimes. IMO

 

[SRWCF]

Really dumb question here: is the alleged 2nd deadline at 5pm eastern or 5pm local? If 5pm local, that would 7 eastern

Yes. 5pm local (Arizona) is 7pm Eastern

 

[Chimera]

Now AG and the SIL surely come and go and are also very familiar w/ the property and probably which cams are charged, which work, the lapsed sub service etc. The fact that they were the last ones to spend time w/ her alone still leaves them on my big board.

Snipped for focus.
Agreed.
The fact that LE have not ruled them out is huge, imo.
By now, they should have, if they're (law enforcement) certain ?
LE would know by now regarding alibis, and afaik they've already seized electronics/phones/computers/gps of AG/SIL's cars/ and some vehicles as well ?
Jmo.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

TMZ and the local station both reported that the note stated "the final deadline to pay the alleged ransom in the kidnapping expires at 5 PM Arizona time today."

Savannah Guthrie Believes Mother Nancy Is Still Alive, 'We Need Your Help'

Savannah Guthrie and her family are not giving up hope Nancy Guthrie is alive ... but she's desperately asking for the public's help in locating their mother.

www.tmz.com

Thanks for clarifying that, so it did mention 'local' time zone. Interesting!

 

[LRinCA]

Maybe Savannah is thinking abductor will drop off her mom in another state and wants people in all of the states to be on the lookout for her mom.

This makes sense.

She could be dropped off at a rest area, a gas station, a hospital - any number of places. I suppose anywhere they've determined isn't monitored by a camera. Even by the side of the road.

 

[tlcya]

Honestly, I think she died that night.

same. I think the whole abduction was a hoax to cover lack of body and that was then further complicated by opportunists who sent fake demands.

 

[mikeshanty]

Was that actually confirmed about the meds? I was not under the impression that death would be imminent that fast. I don't think she's alive but I don't remember seeing confirmation that basically she would have very possibly been deceased prior to the first ransom demand.

The sheriff used the words "24 hours" in the first press conference.

Separately, I thought DJT implied there would be a breakthrough imminently several days ago?

 

[birdbox]

Really dumb question here: is the alleged 2nd deadline at 5pm eastern or 5pm local? If 5pm local, that would 7 eastern

And lets not forget how the ransom note said USD for currency which made investigators think they are outside of US. So are we even talking US time? This case is so next level out there.

 

[Diddian]

Honestly, I think she died that night.

I think she did too, but I think the family wants NG's body back so they can put her properly to rest and grieve with the knowledge that her body is peacefully at rest rather than out there at some dump site only the perp knows about.

 

[Simply Southern]

There is a reason SG is alone in this last video, and that she appears like "herself", (to the public eye), and with direct eye contact. I can't speculate on the reason, but like some others here I sense an undertone of ....something....wrath? more than frustration and desperation, which are also preent.

She is appealing to her followers, her audience, the general public. She may strike a nerve, a memory, a doubt in someone’s mind and they make the phone call that leads to finding NG.

I’ve followed Savanna for years. She was the NBC White House reporter prior to the Today show. She’s always seemed kind and caring.
Moo

 

[tbgo]

Asking for USD bitcoin does sound like that supposed ransom is coming from overseas. I guess you could have someone you know helping you who’s outside the country and you’re in the U.S. though.